Trend Category

Transportation and Infrastructure

Trends and shifts within the transportation and infrastructure sectors are changing how we get around, how we access critical services, and where we live and work.

Trends to Act on Now

U.S. Infrastructure Crisis

U.S. cities lack funding for urgently needed infrastructure repairs.

Urban Highway Removal

The movement to remove freeways that have harmed or destroyed communities has been gaining momentum.

Universal Basic Mobility

Several cities have piloted universal basic mobility programs that make transportation more accessible to low-income residents.

Public Transit Struggles

While public transit ridership is slowly returning to pre-pandemic levels, these systems face a number of funding challenges.

Mobility as a Service

Mobility as a service, or MaaS, is the integration of various forms of transportation into a single comprehensive and on-demand...

Micromobility, E-Bikes, and Cargo Bikes

Lightweight micromobility vehicle options continue to expand, including e-bikes, e-scooters, and cargo bikes.

Gondolas as Transit

With the success of gondolas in several Latin American cities, interest in using these aerial systems for public transit in...

Electric Vehicles

The electrification of transportation is on the rise with growing rates of electric vehicle adoption.

Electric Heavy-Duty Vehicles

Larger vehicles, including freight trucks and buses, are beginning to go electric.

Declining Road Safety

U.S. pedestrian and cyclist fatalities are on the rise even as these numbers fall in other countries.

Curb Management Tech

The post-COVID-19 world has seen increased dependence on e-commerce, food delivery, and ride sharing, leading to conflicts over curbside space...

Charges for Car Externalities

State and local governments are adopting new policies and strategies for fees to reduce vehicle use and address traffic and...

Trends to Prepare For

U.S. High-Speed Rail Challenges

Investments in U.S. high-speed rail projects have the potential to reshape transportation but face increasing obstacles.

Hydrogen in Transportation

The use of green hydrogen has been explored for climate-friendly or climate-neutral transportation, though production concerns are hampering implementation.

Green Aviation Initiatives

The aviation industry is beginning to take sustainable approaches to reduce the environmental impacts of airplane travel.

Expanding Drone Use

While drones have been flying for years, new rules may allow more of them to expand their ranges.

EV-Charging Roads

Pilot programs are experimenting with road infrastructure that will directly charge electric vehicles driving on the road.

Car-Free Cities

Many European cities have embraced car-free areas in city centers to improve overall health, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and boost...

Autonomous Vehicles

AVs are becoming more plentiful, as more AV companies secure local licensing agreements and put vehicles on city streets.

Advanced Air Mobility

The advanced air mobility sector is taking off with the testing of a variety of electric vertical takeoff and landing...

Trends to Learn About and Watch

Aircraft Innovations

Increasing investments are being made in electric planes and solar-powered aircraft to mitigate the environmental costs of aviation.

Vertical Cemeteries

Cities are rethinking burial practices as land becomes increasingly scarce, with some turning to vertical cemeteries as an innovative solution.

Sustainable Aviation Fuel Challenges

Sustainable aviation fuel has been touted as a means of mitigating the carbon-intensive nature of aviation, though little progress has...

Retro Aircraft Revival

New advancements in supersonic jets and blimps could bring these 20th-century aircraft back into popular use.

4D Printing

4D printing adds a fourth dimension — time — to 3D printing by utilizing smart materials that respond to external...

3D-Printed Infrastructure

3D printing is utilized for a growing range of projects, from infrastructure to housing.

Trend Reports

APA's foresight research is made possible in part through our partnership with the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy.

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